CANADIAN THERAPISTS, COUNSELLORS & SOCIAL WORKERS
Foundations of Sex Therapy – Feel Confident When Sexuality Enters the Room
The Sexuality-Competent Therapist is a comprehensive, Canada-based foundation in sex therapy that gives you the clinical frameworks, ethical grounding and practical integration to navigate sexuality in session with clarity and skill – not avoidance
“The most well-organised training I’ve ever attended” – Christine Duthie
You want to support your clients with your usual care and skill.
But you received virtually no training on sexuality in your graduate program (and what you did get was largely theory).
You’re a capable therapist.
But when sexuality enters the room, something shifts.
There’s that familiar hesitation. A tightening in your stomach. A momentary loss of eye contact.
And, in your sessions, sex keeps coming up - or you know you need to go there to get to the heart of the matter.
Clients struggling with sexual concerns, trauma or shame. People questioning their gender identity. Couples navigating intimacy issues or discrepancy in desire.
You want to handle it well, to support your clients with your usual care and skill.
But you received virtually no training on sexuality in your graduate program (and what you did get was largely theory).
So you don’t know where to begin when it shows up in your sessions.
You worry about making your client uncomfortable by discussing such a private part of their life.
You fear you might offend them, be perceived as inappropriate – or cross the line into unsafe, unethical or harmful territory.
So impostor syndrome creeps in. You shy away, you redirect, you refer out.
It’s not that you’re inexperienced.
And it’s not that you’re closed-minded about sex.
It’s that sexuality requires clinical skills that most programs don’t provide. Without those skills, even strong therapists can feel lost.
Open-Mindedness Is Essential. But It’s Not Enough.
Many therapists assume that if they felt more comfortable talking about sex, their uncertainty would ease.
Sex positivity is essential – that’s why self-reflection sits at the core of the TCST program. To bring to light hidden biases and assumptions that influence what you avoid or pathologise in the therapy room.
But on its own, it’s not enough.
It doesn’t tell you how to …
Give your clients’ permission to talk about sex, sexuality and gender
Sit with the discomfort that may arise for them
Navigate these intimate conversations ethically and safely
Real confidence in sex therapy comes from bringing self-aware openness together with clear information, structured frameworks and practical tools – and knowing when and how to apply them
When you have that combination, you stop second-guessing yourself.
And your clients feel held by that steadiness – creating space for them to explore their sexual identities and experiences freely, without fear of judgment or shame.
Most grad programs don’t teach this.
And many sex therapy courses offer only fragments – narrow topics and heavy theory that leaves you unsure what to do in real-life sessions.
Or they’re built for US licensing structures and professional cultures that don’t quite map to your Canadian reality and more human-centred approach to therapy.
That’s why we created The Sexuality-Competent Therapist: Foundations.
The Sexuality-Competent Therapist [Foundations]: Sex Therapy-Informed Practice for Clinical Confidence
This applied sex therapy training is designed for Canadian clinicians who want to feel confident and competent – not just to handle whatever sexual issues arise, but to be the one who starts the conversation.
The virtual, 40-hour program combines self-paced learning with live Integration Days to provide you with a practical, comprehensive foundation in sex therapy.
It begins by grounding you in the core sexuality knowledge every therapist needs (but was never formally taught).
This becomes your steady base for building clinical structure and applying the tools you learn skilfully and effectively.
You’ll Walk Away With …
-
You’ll have a roadmap for navigating sexuality in session – with evidence-based sex therapy models to guide you as you work.
With these frameworks, you’ll to feel more confident in:
Assessing sexual concerns and developing treatment approaches
Knowing when and how to introduce specific interventions
Supporting clients with common concerns – like arousal issues, orgasm difficulties, pain during sex, desire discrepancy, out-of-control sexual behaviours
Using permission and consent frameworks to tailor the depths of exploration to each client
These models will reshape how you approach sex in therapy – ensuring that even hesitant clients feel safe and supported in discussing sensitive topics.
Instead of improvising, you’ll know where to begin, what to explore and how to move forward. And always have a fall-back when you feel unsure.
-
However open-minded and affirming you feel, all therapists have personal experiences, cultural narratives, and subconscious biases around sex and sexuality that can impact their sessions.
Within the safe space of this training, you’ll uncover and examine these.
This reflective work allows you to hold truly inclusive sex therapy sessions – giving all clients permission to explore their sexual identities freely.
-
Knowledge alone won’t change how you practise.
That’s why translating theory into real clinical work is at the heart of this program – so you don’t leave with ideas, but with practical approaches you can use immediately.
During your live Integration Days, you’ll connect with your cohort to apply the content and models from the self-paced training, practising how they feel and sound in real life.
So, by the end of TSCT Foundations, you’ll no longer get that lump in your throat when sex arises.
Instead, you’ll welcome this conversation as an essential part of your client’s story.
And you’ll start asking about sexuality directly – with the same confidence, openness and curiosity you bring to any other topic.
So your clients feel at ease that sexuality is not taboo and that they’re in safe hands.
Who This Is For
This program is for you if …
✔︎ You’re a registered counsellor, psychotherapist, allied health professional or graduate program student in Canada who wants to feel more confident when sex and sexuality come up in your sessions
✔︎ Your graduate program left you underprepared to support clients with intimate concerns
✔︎ You’ve taken sex therapy courses before, but were left with fragmented theory or a rehash of what you know, rather than useful new approaches
✔︎ You want to stop referring out work you’re capable of holding, if only you had the right framework
✔︎ You care deeply about being an ethical, inclusive, competent therapist – and don’t want sexuality to be the one area where you feel unsure
✔︎ You value small, inclusive, cohort-based learning, where community, support and thoughtful discussion are part of the process
This program is not for you if …
You’re not ready to examine your own assumptions and biases around sex and sexuality
You’re looking for a sex therapy certification – this program won’t make you a sex therapist, but it will give you the skills to support all your clients more fully
You want a theoretical overview, without applying the material to real clinical work
You’re seeking answers to one narrow sexual issue, rather than a broad overview
Over 170 Canadian Clinicians Have Completed TSCT Foundations
“This training was phenomenal. Diana’s pace, delivery, kindness, and encouragement were some of the best I have ever experienced across various continuing education experiences. I felt confident in my knowledge going in, but I feel like I’ve reached a new level regarding my competence for application”
Samantha Strange
TSCT Curriculum: What You’ll Learn
The 12 modules of TSCT Foundations move intentionally from self-awareness to clinical knowledge to applied intervention.
Delivered through self-paced online study, they provide the knowledge base you’ll bring to your live integration days.
You’ll Learn:
-
Examine your own assumptions and attitudes around sexuality – and understand how they shape your therapy work.
-
Explore cultural messaging,and consent frameworks – and how they shape sexual identity, behaviour and relationship dynamics.
-
Build a clear understanding of anatomy, physiology and sexual response so your work is grounded in science, not guesswork.
-
Recognise common medical factors affecting sexuality and learn how to navigate interdisciplinary care and referrals.
-
Strengthen your competence in working with diverse identities and creating affirming spaces.
-
Learn established sex therapy models – including PLISSIT and other structured approaches – you can immediately apply in session.
-
Conduct thorough sexual histories and assess sexual difficulties with systematic confidence.
-
Develop structured approaches to working with:
Desire concerns and discrepancies
Arousal difficulties
Orgasm issues
Sexual pain
-
Use practical interventions including CBT-informed strategies, mindfulness, sexual communication, solution-focused exercises and sensate focus.
This steady progression guides you from uncertainty to readiness to handle sexuality in your therapy sessions.
Course Format: Reflection, Study, Integration
TSCT Foundations is delivered in three parts to ensure integration, not overwhelm.
Reflection & Assessment
Self-reflection is a core component of this training.
You’ll begin by examining your assumptions and beliefs around sex and sexuality – and end by reflecting on how your thinking has evolved.
Self-Paced Learning
You’ll get immediate access to the twelve online modules upon enrolment. Work through them at your own pace, engaging with videos, readings, case studies, reflective exercises.
This ensures you arrive at the live cohort days prepared – and ready to go deeper.
Integration Days
Three live online training days in small cohorts allow you to practise applying what you’ve learned.
These are experiential sessions, not passive webinars. You’ll observe role plays, practise taking sexual histories, and work through case-based interventions.
By the end, you won’t just understand the material. You’ll be ready to use it.
“The course content was clear, relevant, and immediately applicable”
“I found the Foundations of Sex Therapy course incredibly engaging and valuable. The asynchronous format … allowed time to absorb the material at my own pace, and the in-person days focused on applying what we learned in practical, hands-on ways.
The course content was clear, relevant, and immediately applicable to my work with clients. I came away with new tools and insights that I’ve already started integrating into my practice.”
Tracy Lewis
Upcoming Live Integration Cohorts 2026
TSCT Foundations offers two live integrations each year, delivered on Zoom.
Each cohort is capped at 20 participants to allow for personalised attention and a connected, supportive community.
Integration Days run Wednesday to Friday, 9am-4pm PST (with a one-hour lunch break).
Fall 2026: October 21-23
After enrolling in TSCT, select your cohort dates.
To ensure continuity and depth, you’ll attend all three days within your chosen cohort.
You must complete the self-paced modules at least one week before your Integration Days.
If the cohorts available don’t work for you, add yourself to the list to be notified when we release our 2027 cohort dates!
Designed for Canadian Clinicians
✔︎ Canadian Context
✔︎ No Exchange Rate
✔︎ National timezones
Many Canadian therapists turn to international sex therapy programs.
They come away well-educated, but often struggle with the U.S. licensing structures, certification pathways and professional culture.
TSCT Foundations was created with Canadian clinicians in mind.
No translating content across regulatory systems.
No adapting diagnostic language that doesn’t fit your scope.
No navigating exchange rates or time zones.
Instead, you’ll learn in a context aligned with Canadian regulatory frameworks – and that reflects the ethical, relational, reflective way we practise here.
Sex Therapy Certification & Next Steps
TSCT Foundations is not a standalone sex therapist certification.
The program supports you to integrate sex therapy principles into your existing therapeutic practice, so you can hold inclusive, sex-positive space for all your clients.
It is approved for 40 continuing education (CE) credits, applicable toward American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) certification or renewal.
If you’d like to extend your training, Northern Lights offers:
Individual and group sex therapy supervision to sharpen your clinical skills through mentorship
Advanced topic-specific sex therapy trainings (with a comprehensive advanced program in development)
TSCT Foundations gives you the core tools to navigate sexuality in session. Supervision and advanced training refine your expertise.
Your TSCT Investment
$1,497 CAD
Your TSCT Foundations registration includes:
12 self-paced core modules
Three live Integration Days
Structured clinical frameworks you can implement immediately
Downloadable assessment tools and handouts
Pre- and post-training reflection assignments
40 CE credits (eligible toward AASECT certification)
Access to a connected Canadian clinical community
Pay in full or choose a 4- or 6-part monthly payment plan at checkout.
This is not a passive sex therapy course. It is an applied foundation designed to transform how you practise – and how you feel when sexuality enters the room.
100% Money-Back Guarantee:
Try TSCT Foundations Risk Free for 30 Days
We want you to be sure this training is right for you.
So, when you enrol in TSCT Foundations, you have 30 days to work through the self-paced modules.
If within that time you change your mind, simply email us and we’ll refund your full course fee – no questions asked.
To be eligible, the refund request must be made before attending your live Integration Days.
Sexuality Doesn’t Have to Be the Weak Link in Your Practice
Join over 170 Canadian clinicians who have trusted TSCT Foundations to bring clarity and competence to their work.
Secure your spot before your chosen cohort closes at 20 places
still got a question?
still got a question?
Still Got a Question? Here Are Answers to the Ones We’re Most Frequently Asked
-
No.
TSCT Foundations is an applied sex therapy training that builds competence and confidence in addressing sexuality when it arises in your sessions.
It does not grant sex therapist certification.
-
TSCT Foundations is approved for 40 CE credits, which may be applied toward AASECT certification or renewal.
It counts in the following areas (hours in brackets):Core Knowledge Areas
C (1), D (1), E (1), F (2), G (1), H (1), I (4), O (5)Sex Therapy Training Areas
A (6), B (8), C (5), D (3), E (1), F (1)Completion of this program does not ensure or guarantee AASECT certification.
For specific certification requirements, please contact AASECT. -
No.
This is a foundations-level course open to registered counsellors, psychotherapists, allied health professionals and graduate program enrollees who have begun seeing clients in internship.
You don’t need sex therapy experience – only curiosity and openness to reflective learning.
-
Yes.
TSCT Foundations includes:
12 self-paced online modules
Three live, experiential Integration Days delivered via Zoom in small cohorts
All live sessions are interactive and participation-based – not passive webinars.
-
You’ll receive immediate access to the learning portal upon enrolment.
You can begin working through the 12 core modules right away – and must complete them at least one week before your scheduled Integration Days.
-
Many participants begin the course feeling hesitant – concerned about self-disclosure or anxious about appearing ignorant about sexuality.
This discomfort eases quickly within the program’s welcoming and non-judgmental small-cohort learning environment.
These intimate groups (capped at 20 participants) are friendly spaces to connect, ask questions, examine assumptions, make mistakes and learn from each other.
You’re always in control of how much personal information you bring into exercises. Some participants choose to role play as themselves – but this is not required.
-
Yes.
While we created the TSCT program with Canadian clinicians in mind, international participants are welcome.
Sex therapy certification requirements and CE eligibility should be verified with your relevant regulatory body.
-
Yes.
You may pay in full or select a 4- or 6-part monthly payment plan at checkout.
If you have questions about payment options before enrolling, you’re welcome to reach out.
-
You have 30 days from enrolment to work through the self-pace modules and decide if TSCT Foundations is right for you.
If you request a refund within that period – and before attending your live Integration Days – we’ll refund you 100% of your course fee, no questions asked.
If you’re unable attend your selected Integration Days:
You can transfer once to a future date at no cost
Additional transfers incur a $100 administrative fee
All transfers are subject to availability.
If you have specific questions before enrolling, please contact us – we’re here to help you make an informed decision.
“This was a great training! The content, tools and format were not only well organized but skillfully taught and shared as well. I highly recommend this course to other therapists”
- Colleen Mpofu
Feel Confident When Sexuality Enters the Room
You’re already a thoughtful, capable therapist.
TSCT Foundations will give you the resources to support your clients around sexuality too.
Ready to stop avoiding – and start leading the conversation?
Secure your place before cohort registration closes.